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Photo: Olivia Lacke, a second-grader at Willow River Elementary, Hudson, enjoys gardening with her mom Heather at Hudson Hospital Community Gardens.

It’s harvest time at Hudson Hospital Community Gardens. All 66 plots are filled with a fresh crop of veggies, fruits and beautiful flowers. Exceeding the amount of produce harvested last year, the Nutrition Garden has already generated more than 150 pounds of produce – with even more to be harvested! This includes green beans, cucumbers, bell peppers, zucchini, a variety of tomatoes and dill for making pickles. Nutrition Services is also growing herbs including thyme, basil, mint, rosemary, and oregano.

“Almost everyone in nutrition is somehow involved in the garden either through watering, weeding, picking or transporting compost,” says Jean Weiler, manager, Nutrition Services, Hudson Hospital & Clinic. Hudson Hospital Nutrition Services has two plots and their garden is producing zucchini and cucumbers that are already being served to patients and employees. This is the third year for the Community Gardens at Hudson Hospital. Interest in the gardens has grown considerably with 38 plots planted the first year, 55 plots planted last year, and 66 plots planted this year. About two thirds of the plots are used by people from the community. Hospital employees are gardening on the remaining one-third plots. Hudson’s Master Gardeners have three Test Gardens which are all planted and they are tending one abandoned plot. The produce from the Master Gardener sites will go to the Hudson Food Shelf.

“We welcome all gardeners, first timers or experienced, to have a garden plot at Hudson Hospital’s Community Garden. A wrap up meeting is planned in mid-November at Hudson Hospital. This is the first opportunity to sign up for plots for the next season, “ says Weiler. If you are interested in getting on the list for next year, send your contact information to Jean.M.Weiler@HudsonHospital.Org. You will be added to the e-mail list and received information about the meeting.